*An artist’s impression of the Ennis Data Centre.
DEVELOPERS behind the planned €1.5bn data campus for Ennis has claimed that the project is being put at risk due to “bureaucratic inertia”.
An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission to Art Data Centres Ltd for the scheme in April 2024 comprising six data halls covering 145 acres or 1.3m sq ft on lands adjacent to the Tulla Rd on the eastern outskirts of Ennis near Junction 13 on the M18 motorway connecting Galway to Limerick.
The planned data centre has been stalled by a High Court judicial review challenge by opponents of the data centre, Colin Doyle, Friends of the Irish Environment CLG, Futureproof Clare, Martin Knox and Christine Sharp.
However, last month the High Court ruled an issue concerning a Leisler bat is not sufficient to halt contentious plans for the new 200MW data centre campus.
The High Court action does remain before the High Court with an issue concerning a derogation licence still to be decided upon.
CEO of Art Data Centres Ltd, Tom McNamara expressed “serious frustration” at what he called are “continued delays by EirGrid” in issuing a grid connection for the proposed n AI-focused data centre campus in Ennis.
The project has backing from international investors, including ongoing discussions with end users in the cloud and AI spaces.
Art Data Centres has now written to Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke (FG) TD on foot of this week’s Action Plan on Competitiveness proposal to provide policy certainty regarding data centres and plans for connecting large energy users.
Mr McNamara said. “We have a project of national importance. Almost all legal, technical, and environmental requirements are met. Yet after eight years of effort, the project is being put at risk due to bureaucratic inertia”.
He stated, “I am writing to the Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, and relevant Cabinet colleagues to intervene urgently to ensure the project’s grid connection proceeds”.
Mr McNamara said that the project meets the needs concerning regional development, attracting AI investment and delivering climate-resilient infrastructure “and must be supported”.
He said, “Delay is not a neutral act—it actively damages Ireland’s international reputation”.
Art Data Centres has been engaging with EirGrid since 2017, first applying for connection in 2019.
A company spokesman said that despite confirmed available capacity at Ennis and extensive engagement under the CRU’s 2021/124 guidance, EirGrid has not progressed a connection offer.
At an Ennis Chamber of Commerce lunch last year, Taoiseach Micheál Martin publicly supported and referred to the project in 2024.
When speaking to The Clare Echo at the event, he said, “I would support that Data Centre and its connection to the grid. We’ve a lot of Data Centres in Ireland but we are living in a digital economy and that is the future, AI is coming and the demand for data will grow exponentially so we have to facilitate all of that, it positions Ireland well for the long-term, we have to expand the grid but this represents an opportunity for here and for this location, that is why for areas outside of Dublin which haven’t had that sort of investment in the past we can’t deny them that investment, I understand the grid capacity is there”.
Asked to respond to Mr McNamara’s comments, a spokesman for EirGrid said that “for reasons of confidentiality EirGrid does not comment on individual customers, connection agreements or applications”.
